Evaluating Learning Centers

Asking Questions to Establish the Effectiveness of the Interest Areas

Asking the following questions will assist any teacher with planning the environment of a classroom.

How do the children select interest areas and materials?

Which areas are never used?
Which areas are selected most often?
Does the classroom have a traffic pattern?
Do children select the same, similar or different materials daily?
Are children able to find and return materials with little or no help from the teacher?
How do the children use the materials?

What do children actually do with the materials?
Can the children use materials? (too advance or too easy)
Do children use materials appropriately and creatively?
Which types of materials seem to encourage dramatic play?
Do children play with same toy in different ways?
Which materials hold the children's interest longest?
Are the materials reflective of the children's backgrounds and home life?
Do children help care for materials and return them where they belong?
How do the children interact with their peers and adults?

How do the children socialize?
Do they approach others or wait to be invited?
Which children play together most often?
How do children ask for help from adults? From peers?
Which play experiences seem to foster cooperative play? Alone play?

Information compiled from the following:
Colker, Laura J. and Diane Trister Dodge, The Creative Curriculum for Early Childhood (Third Edition).  Washington, DC: Teaching Strategies, Inc., 1992.

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